Silk screen printing machine



arm

Oct. 22, 1957 Filed Feb. 2, 1955 A. w. SAUNDERS 2,810,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 22, 1957 A. w.SAUNDERS SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2,1955 A. W. SAUNDERS SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Oct. 22, 1957 FiledFeb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 22, 1957 A. w. SAUNDERS 2,810,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q a E kE 07/ k em $2 ,Jiw f %7oq4/ @775/veeg/ Oct. 22, 1957 w, SAUNDERS2,810,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct.22, 1957 Y A. w. SAUNDERS 2,310,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet e UnitedStates atent SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Arthur W. Saunders, RoundLake, Ill.

Application February 2, 1955, Serial No. 485,645

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-126) This invention relates to a printing machineand, in particular, to a silk screen printing machine arranged forvertical printing.

While forms of silk screen printers are found in the art, these havebeen found to have disadvantageous limitations in operational efiiciencyin the production of the printed material. The means for insertion andremoval of the printing stock material have proven ineflicient. Further,the inking mechanisms presently found in the art do not providecompletely satisfactory means for application of the ink through thescreen and storage of the ink supply therein. Where the printer isdesigned for oneman operation, the disadvantages indicated cumulativelyretard production efiiciency.

The principal features of my invention, therefore, is the provision of anew and improved silk screen printing machine arranged to provideimproved efficiency in the printing operation.

Another feature is the provision of a new and improved silk screenprinting machine arranged for the printing of the stock in a verticalplane.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a vertical silkscreen printer having vertically movable inking means and a stocksupporting platen adapted to pivot to a position away from the verticalso as to receive the stock and pivot to the vertical position to bringthe stock into printing position engagement with the screen.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide a vertical silkscreen printer having new and improved inking means comprising an inkreservoir having an ink transferring squeegee extending outwardly fromthe lower portion thereof and an ink flow control blade disposedadjacent said squeegee and movable to a position wherein it contacts thesqueegee to prevent ink flow from the reservoir during the non-printingportion of the printing operation.

Yet another feature is the provision of a silk screen printer having newand improved oscillatory drive means provided with a unidirectionallyrotating member, a crank arm having one end pivotally eccentricallyconnected to the rotating member, a first toothed rack fixedly securedto the printer frame, a second toothed rack spaced from and extendingparallel to the first rack and movably carried by the frame, and atoothed wheel pivotally secured to another end of the crank arm andhaving meshing engagement with both racks reciprocatorily to move thesecond rack.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a silk screenprinter having new and improved registering means which is accurate andeasily operable and which comprises a positionally adjustable silkscreen frame support whereby said frame carrying a silk screen may bepositioned laterally and longitudinally relative to the printing stocksupporting platen.

Various other features and advantages of this invention .will .beapparent from thefollowing description 2 taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vertical silk screen printerembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the silk screen frameregister adjustment means, right-hand side;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the drive meanstaken approximately along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the stock supporting guide meansin the position assumed when the platen is disengaged from the frame;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the guide means in the positionassumed when the platen is in printing position in engagement with theframe;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken ap proximately along theline 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken approximatelyalong the line 99 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the drive means taken approximatelyalong the line 1010 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the .inking mechanism takenalong the line 1212 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View taken along the line 1313 of Fig. 3 showingthe inking mechanism in the ink applying position; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 13 but with the inkingmechanism flow control blade in the cutoff position and the silk screenframe in the released position.

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular to Fig. 1, a silkscreen printing machine embodying my invention may be seen wherein areciprocatory drive means 25, comprising a unidirectionally rotatingmotor, suitable drive belting, and a rack and pinion, is mounted on ahorizontally disposed frame 20. Fixedly secured to the mid-portion ofthe frame are vertically extending support means 35. Slidably mounted onthe support means is an inking mechanism 40 which is reciprocatorilyvertically moved by a connecting means 30 adapted to co-operate with thedriving means to provide linear oscillatory motion. The inking mechanismcomprises an ink reservoir having a squeegee blade adapted to engage thesilk screen for printing therethrough and a control blade adapted tostop the flow of ink from the reservoir to the squeegee during the nonprinting portion of the operation.

A generally vertically disposed frame .50 adapted to carry a silk screen70 is pivotally secured to the frame 20 by positioning means 55 adaptedto allow both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the silk screenframe.

This frame is arranged to extend parallel and adjacent to the supportmeans 35 so that the inking mechanism squeegee may have ink transferringcontact with the silk screen mounted thereon over the operative portionof the inking mechanism upward vertical movement, thereby effecting thedeposition of ink on'the printing stock in the 'silk screen printingmanner. ..Also carried by the frame 20 is the printing stock carryingplaten member 60 which is arranged to position the stock in contact withthe silk screen for printing and which is further arranged to pivot to areleased position for insertion or removal of the stock from the platen.

The drive means The specific arrangement and construction of the drivemeans 25 may be best seen in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 10. A unidirectionallyrotating motor 26 is fixedly secured to a transversely extending portiona of frame 20 and is I provided with a pulley and belt powertransmitting drive 26a having a driven pulley 26a mounted on ahorizontally extending shaft 26b. Shaft 26b is journalled in bearings26b which are fixedly attached to a partial housing 21. attached to aleft-hand longitudinal member 20c of frame 20. Housing 21'comprises anopen ended rectangular frame adapted generally to enclose a portion ofdrive means 25.

Intermediate the ends of shaft 26b is provided a worm gear 260. A matingworm wheel 26d is mounted fast on a shaft 26d which is rotativelymounted on the frame and housing. Wheel 26a has meshing engagement withthe worm gear 26c and is rotated unidirectionally thereby. Ecccntricallymounted on the worm wheel is a pin 26d" and a crank arm 27 is pivotallyconnected thereto at one end 27a. At the opposite end 2717 of the crankarm is pivotally mounted a pinion 27c. A fixed rack 28 is secured to theframe member 20c by studs 28a and extends longitudinally along the framemember. Spaced below and extending parallel to the fixed rack is amovable rack 29 carried in a channel 20b secured to the frame. Thespacing between the racks is such that the pinion 27c will have meshingengagement with a downwardly extending toothed portion 28b of the upperfixed rack and an upwardly extending toothed portion 29a of the lowermovable rack.

As the unidirectionally rotating drive motor 26, through the drive 26awith driven pulley 26a, shaft 26b, and worm gear 260, causes the wormwheel 26d to rotate unidirectionally, the crank arm 27 will be forced bypin 26d to impart a longitudinal reciprocating motion to the pinion 27c.As the rack 28 is positionally immovable, the pinion will rotate andcause the movable rack 29 to move longitudinally. The motion thustransmitted will have a magnitude twice that of the longitudinal motionof the pinion.

The support means, inking means and connecting means As seen in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the vertical support means comprises a pair of spaced,vertically extending members 36, each secured at the lower end to theleft horizontal frame mmeber 200 by studs 36a and a similar pair ofvertically extending spaced members 37 secured at their lower ends toright horizontal frame member 20d by studs 37a. Resultant spaces 36b and3712 between the support members provided a guide channel for mountingthe inking mechanism 40. A horizontally extending support member 38 isfixedly secured to the top portion of members 36 by studs 38a andsimilar support member 39 is secured to the topportion of verticalmembers 37 by studs 39a. A brace member 3511, extending horizontallybetween the support members, is secured at one end to support member38and at the opposite end to support member 39, atfording rigidity andstability to the support means 35.

Inking mechanism 40, as best seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 11 to 14, comprisestwo vertically extending end members 41 and 41 spaced apart by andfixedly secured to opposite ends of a horizontal support 42. The lengthof the support is somewhat less than the spacing between the verticalsupport means 35 so that the end members extend parallel to and adjacentthe supports 36 and 37. A slide block 43 is secured to each of the endmembers by studs 43a, extending outwardly from the members and throughthe spaces 36b and 3712. Slide blocks 43 each comprise a spacer block43b extending outwardly from the end member, a first slide guide plate430 abutting block 43b and provided with an outer surface slidinglyengaging the inner surface of the vertical support member, a secondslide guide plate 43d in sliding engagement with the outer surfaces ofthe support members, and a pair of ball bearings 43e mounted on thestuds 43a intermediate the guide plates and in the space be- 4 tween thevertical supports. The bearings are preferably siightly smaller indiameter than the width of the spaces 36b and 37b so that a rollingaction will be had against either one of the adjacent support members.As the studs 43a, on which the rollers are mounted, are spaced part, theinking mechanism will be constrained against pivotal rotation whilevertical reciprocatory movement will be readily allowed. The guideplates are preferably formed of a wear resistant material such as brassto allow ease of operation and minimum maintenance. The assembly issecured by threading nuts 43a" on the outwardly extending portion of thestuds 43 against the outer surface of plate 43d. The inner end of thestuds 43a is provided with a flanged end portion 43a adapted to retain aslide plate 44 which is mounted between the flanged end and the innersurface of the end member.

Slide plates 44 are provided with two spaced vertically extending slots44a arranged to receive the studs 43a while allowing limited verticalmovement of the slide plates. The stud flanged portion 43a extendssufficiently laterally of the openings to retain the plates injuxtaposition to the end members. Each plate is provided with ahorizontally disposed bottom surface 441) and a horizontally disposedtop surface 44c. A portion 44d, of the top surface, is cut away to allowclearance thereof with support 42 and other members to be laterdescribed.

Extending between the slide plates is the ink transferring element 45comprising a support 45a fixedly secured at opposite ends to the slideplates intermediate the slots 44a. The support extends forwardlyangularly downwardly. An intermediate support 45b is fixedly securedalong one edge to the support 45a and similarly extends angularlydownwardly. At the lower portion of support 45, a squeegee blade 450formed of a resilient material such as neoprene, is secured. The screenengaging outer portion 450 of the squeegee blade extends slightly beyondthe front edge of the end members 41 and 41 to allow inking engagementwith the silk screen when supported in the printing position.

The upper portions of the horizontal support 42 adjacent each of the endmembers are provided with leaf springs 42a. Immediately forward of thesupport 42 is a control blade mechanism 46. This mechanism is secured tothe end members by L-shaped supports 46a pivotally mounted thereon bypins 46a. A horizontally arranged portion 46a" extends slightly abovethe end of support 42 and is contacted by the springs 42a which urge themechanism 46 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 13 and 14-. Avertical blade support member 46b is secured to the rear portion of avertically extending portion 46a of support 46 and extends transverselybetween the end members 41 and 41 Support 42 extends laterally betweenthe end members immediately adjacent support member 4612 and acts tolimit the clockwise pivotal movement of the control blade mechanism. Athin control blade 46d is attached to the lower portion of the support46b also extending laterally between the end members. The pivotalmovement of the support 46a will cause the lower end of the blade 46d tobe positioned alternatively as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Thus, it can be seen that the ink transferring element 45 and slideplates 44 define an open-sided reservoir in which printing ink may beplaced and allowed to flow downwardly and outwardly over the squeegeeblade edge 45c onto and through the silk screen 70. The control bladebeing disposed slightly above the squeegee blade in the releasedposition, as seen in Fig. 13, serves further partially to enclose thisreservoir and, to some extent, control the flow of ink therefrom overthe squeegee blade. When the control blade and ink transferring elementare moved to the non-printing position as seen in Fig. 14, further inkflow is prevented. In my improved vertically operative inking mechanism,therefore, is provided means for storing the ink supply, controlling itsflow during the printing operation and preventing the non-printingportion of the operation.

The connecting means 30, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, 10, 13 and 14, comprisesa pinion 31 mounted on a transversely extending horizontal shaft 32which is journalled in suitable bearings on frame members 20c and 20d soas to have meshing engagement with the movable rack tooth portion 29a.Non-rotatively mounted on the shaft 32 are driver sprockets 32a and 32a.Extending parallel to shaft 32 and fixedly secured to support members 38and 39 is a shaft 33. Driven sprockets 33a and 33a are freely mounted onthis shaft in alignment with the driver sprockets on shaft 32. Chains 34and 34 are provided for interconnecting sprocket 32a with sprocket 33aand sprocket 32a with sprocket 33a.

Connecting links 34a and 34a are provided in the chains and are securedto the ink transferring element support 45a by screws 45a. Thus,vertical reciprocatory motion may be imparted by the chain to the inktransferring element 45, and as the support 45a is secured to the slideplates 44, the motion will be imparted to the plates and the end membersto which the plates are secured. Lateral movement of sprockets 33a and33a is prevented by the maintenance of the spacing between chainseffected by the securing of the links 34a and 34a to the inktransferring element.

As indicated previously, the slide plates have limited vertical movement.relative to the end members due to the engagement of the studs 43asecured to the end members with the elongated slots 44a of the slideplates. To assure proper positioning of the slide plate relative to theend members, a ball catch mechanism 47 is provided as shown in Figs. 11and 12. Mechanism 47 comprises a flat spring 47a secured at one end tothe outer portion of the end member. The opposite end of the spring isprovided with a ball engaging rounded portion 47a. A spherical ball 47bis retained in a hole 41a in the end member. Slide plate 44 is providedwith spaced, arcuate recesses 44e and 44e adapted to receive andyieldingly hold a portion of the ball 47b to prevent relative movementbetween'the slide plate. and the end member. Recess 44a is located so asto position the slide plate bottom portion 44b adjacent the bottom ofthe end member while recess 44a is located to position the slide platetop surface 44c adjacent the top of the end member.

Upper stops 48 are secured to the vertical support members and arepositioned to allow the upper surface of the endmember to contact it atthe upper limit of its vertical travel. The connecting means 30 causesthe ink transferring element and slide plates, on which the transferringelement is mounted, to continue their upward travel a small amount afterthe end members are stopped. The force acting to move the slide platerelative to the end member is thusly increased so that the ball 47b'willbe forced from the recess 44e against the pressure of spring 47a. Whenhe slide member has moved upwardly to the point where the studs 43acontact the bottom of the slots 44a, the ball 47b will engage the recess44e, holding the slide plate in the upper position.

Lower stops 49 are mounted on the vertical support members, positionedso as to have their upper portion contact the lower surfaces of the endmembers at the bottom limit of travel thereof. With the end membersprevented from further downward motion, connecting means 30 will act tomove the slide plate downwardly until the studs 43a engage the upperportion of the slots 44a and the bottom surface 44b of the slide plateis aligned with the bottom of the end member. This positional transferis accompanied by the transferring of the ball 47b from the recess 44eto the recess 44c.

Adjustable stops 48a are mounted on the vertical support members 36 and37 near their upper ends and are positioned to contact the horizontalportion of L-shaped flow during screw 48a which is positionallyadjustable by threading to cause the pivoting of the support 46 inacounterclockwise direction as seen in Figs. 13 and 14 against action 1of spring 42a so as to cause the control blade 46d to move the upperlimit of travel. This stop is provided with a described, blade portion450' will contact the rear portion of the control blade, thus preventingfurther flow'of ink over portion 450'.

1 T hesilk screen frame and positioning means As best seen in Figs. 1,2, 4 and 6 to 9, the silk screen supporting frame 50 is secured to thelongitudinal frame members 20c and 20d by positioning means 55.- Frame50 comprises a rectangular outer frame member. 51 having verticallyextending side portions 51a and horizontally extending top portion 51band bottom portion 510. A continuous groove 52 is provided in the rearsurface of the frame members to receive the peripheral portions of thesilk screen 70 placed on the frame. A cord 52a is provided to clamp theedges of the silk screen in the groove and hold the silk screen tautduring the printing operation. Other suitable means for holding thescreen to the frame similarly may be utilized for this purpose. Itshould be noted here that the placement of the screen on the frame isopposite that normally found in the art, in that herein the design sideof the screen is placed in-v wardly of the screen frame.

Pivotally mounted on the outer side of the frame 20 by studs 56a areadjustment plates 56. Stud 56a is positioned intermediate the ends ofthe plate. A vertically extending groove 56b is provided at the forwardend of the plate and a wing bolt 57 is passed through the groove andsecured to frame 20c. Secured near the rear end of the plate 56 is astud 58 which extends through the plate, through a vertically extendinggroove 20e'in the frame member and terminates in a recess 51d providedin the bottom portion of frame member 51. Groove 20e is provided withsuflicient width to allow ready movement of the stud 58 therethrough andrecess 51d is made to allow pivotal movement of the frame on anon-threaded stud end portion 58a retained therein. A nut 58b is carriedby the stud 58 and abuts the adjustment plate 56 so as to lock the studpositionally horizontally.

Pivotal rotation of the plate 56 causes stud 58 to raise or lower theframe 50 carried thereby, thus allowing for vertical register of thesilk screen mounted on the frame. Longitudinal adjustment of the studs58 allows for horizontal register of the silk screen. As the positioningmeans are provided on both the left and righthand side of the printingmachine, it is necessary that both be adjusted to effectuate therepositioning.

As seen in Fig. 1, frame 50 is maintained in a relatively verticalposition by frame support means 53 comprising supports 53a secured tothe vertical support members 36 and 37 and extending horizontallyforwardly, and stops 53b and 53c secured to the supports 53a. Stops 53band 530 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thicknessof the frame top 51b. Stops 53b are positioned so that the rear portionof the frame top 51b will abut them when the frame is in the printingposition with the silk screen 70 disposed for contact with the squeegeeblade 450. The stop 53's is positioned forwardly on the support 53a soas to allow the frame to pivot away from the printing position andpermit the silk screen to move from engagement with the squeegee. Thismovement is relatively small as the clearance between the squeegee bladeand the screen need only be suflicient to allow the control blade 46d tobe interposed therebetween as seen in Fig. 14; i a

The platen member.

The outside dimensions of the platen are somewhat smaller than theinternal dimensions of the frame 50 so that the platen may be positionedtherewithin, with the platen surface in juxtaposition to the silk screen70 carried by the frame. The platen comprises a block, preferably of amaterial such as wood, to which the printing stock 71 is secured for theprinting operation. Studs 61c allow for adjustment of the positioning ofthe platen so as to provide uniform contact between the stock and thesilk screen in the printing position.

The lower portion of the platen is provided with a plurality of guidemembers 63 adapted to receive the stock and hold it for printingthereon. These guides, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, comprise a rod 63ahaving a flanged end 63b and a retaining screw 630 secured to theopposite end. A tension spring 63d is mounted on the rod adjacent thescrew 630, with the rod extending through a bushing 63c mounted in theplaten 62. Spring 63d acts to urge rod 63a so as to move the flanged end63]) away from the platen and allow the insertion of the stocktherebetween.

When the platen member is positioned so as to bring the platen intojuxtaposition with the silk screen, the flanged end of the guide memberswill contact the silk screen and move the rod 63a forwardly, causing theflanged portion 63b to contact the stock 71 and hold it tightly againstthe platen.

When the platen member is pivoted to the printing position, it isretained therein by a pair of latch members 64 comprising horizontalbars 64a pivotally secured to the vertical support members, and providedin the forward portion with a notch 64b adapted to engage the handle61b. A cross bar 64d extending laterally is secured at its ends to eachof the latch members to form a unified assembly maintaining positionalrelationship of the two latch members. Springs 65 are secured at one endto the bars 64 rearwardly of the pivotalattachment to the verticalsupport member and at the other end to the vertical support members. Thecross bar 64d is disposed adjacent the connecting means chain; mountedon the chain is a contact member 34b which is positioned to strike theunder portion of the bar end when the inking mechanism has reached theupper limit of its travel. This acts to pivot the notched end of the bardownwardly and release the platen member which will pivot by action ofgravity outwardly, allowing ready access to the platen surface forremoval and insertion of the printing stock. The leading edge 640 of thebar 64 is charnfered to guide the platen handle thereover and into thenotch 64b, thereby allowing ready manual latching of the platen in avertical position.

Drive control means The control of the drive means motor 26 is obtainedthrough the useof two switches 66 and 67. Switch 66 is mounted on theframe member 20c and is provided with an actuating means 66a adapted tobe contacted by a lever 61d secured to the bottom portion of thesupporting frame 61. This lever actuates the switch when the platenmember is in the vertical or printing position, thereby starting themotor 26 and causing the drive means and connecting means to move theinking mechanism to efiect a printing operation. Switch 67 is mounted onthe vertical support member 36 and is provided with an actuating means67a which is contacted by the slide spacer block 43b in its upwardtravel so as to close the Operation The operation of my vertical silkscreen printer is automatic upon placement of the printing stock on theplaten member and the pivoting thereof into the frame so that the stockwill have engagement with the silk screen mounted thereon. The stock isfirst manually placed on the platen member 62 and allowed to abut theguides 63 which are properly positioned on the platen for printing. Theplaten member is then pivoted to the vertical position wherein the guidemembers will be pressed by the silk screen forwardly so as to cause theflange to contact and securely hold the stock. The switch 66 is actuatedby the lever 61d at this time, closing the circuit to the motor 26. Theinking mechanism 40, having been positioned adjacent switch 67 when itsdownward travel Was stopped on the previous cycle, will be moveddownwardly by action of the motor drive means and the connecting meansthrough chains 34 and 34.

The downward motion is accomplished by motor 26 acting through the drive26a and pulley 26a to rotate worm wheel 26d and draw crank arm 27rearwardly. Pinion 27c attached to the crank arm end will act to movethe movable rack 29 also rearwardly. As pinion 31 is meshed with thetoothed portion 29a of the movable rack, it will act to rotate driversprockets 32a and 32a clockwise as seen in Fig. 1 and move the forwardportion of the chains 34 and 34 downwardly carrying the inking mechanismcorrespondingly downwardly.

"the actuation of switch 66 is accomplished slightly prior to thecomplete closing of the platen so that the downward travel of the inkingmechanism, which is for a relatively short distance, is accomplishednormally prior to the complete closing of the platen within the frame.The purpose of this is to allow the withdrawal of the control blademechanism 46 from the space between the end of the squeegee blade 45c ofthe ink transferring element 45 and the silk screen 70 where it had beenpositioned on the previous cycle to hold the ink on the squeegee bladeas seen in Fig. 14. This withdrawal, as indicated previously, isaccomplished by the bottom edge of the end member striking lower stop 49and preventing further downward travel of the end member. The chaintraverses a small amount further downwardly so as to move the slideplates 44 downwardly relative to the end members and cause the studs 43ato abut the upper end of the slots 44 as seen in Fig. 13. As the inktransferring element 45 is thus moved down relative to the end members,the control blade 46d being supported on the end members will becomedisengaged from the outer squeegee blade portion 450' and ink will beallowed to flow over the squeegee blade under the control blade and ontothe silk screen which will have been placed in the vertical printingposition by the now completed closing of the platen acting to move thesilk screen carrying frame from abutment with stops 53b to abutment withstops 53c. Spring 42a will act to maintain the control blade mechanism46 in this withdrawn position during the upward printing cycle.

Pinion 27c will now be driven by the crank arm in the opposite direction(to the right in Fig. 1) so as to move the inking mechanism upwardly byaction of the movable rack and connecting means. As the inking mechanismmoves, the squeegee blade portion 45c contacts the silk screen as seenin Fig. 13 and applies ink thereto so as to print upon the stock heldimmediately forwardly of the silk screen by the platen 62. As inkingmechanism 40 nears the upper limit of its travel, the horizontal portion46a of L-shaped support 46a contacts adjustable stop 48a, therebypivoting the control blade mechanism 46 and forcing the lower end ofblade 46d tightly against silk screen 70. Further upward travel ofinking mechanism 40 causes abutment of the end members 41' with upperstops 48, which causes ink transferring element 45 to move upwardlyrelative to the end members allowing squeegee blade edge 450' to contactthe rear portion of the control blade 46d, thereby preventing furtherflow of ink from the squeegee blade. Stop 34b, mounted on the chain, nowcontacts latch member 64 so as to pivot it and release platen member 60allowing it to pivot forwardly. The platen member release, in turn,allows frame 50 to pivot forwardly a small amount until its top portion51b abuts stop 53b, thereby releasing silk screen 70 from engagementwith control blade 46a.

The switch 67, having been actuated by the inking mechanism on itsupward travel so as to maintain the circuit to the motor after theplaten member 60 has been allowed to pivot forwardly and open switch 66,now acts to allow the drive and connecting means to move the inkingmechanism downwardly. When the slide spacer block 43b recontacts theactuating member 67a, switch 67 is operated to open the circuit to themotor and further movement is prevented until the aforedescribed cycleis repeated by the manual operation of the platen member.

The registration of the printing is readily accomplished in my inventionby the manual operation of the positioning means as follows. Forvertical adjustment, wing nuts 57 are loosened and the adjusting plates56 pivoted by studs 56a to move the frame to the desired position,whereupon the wing nuts are tightened. Horizontal register isaccomplished by inwardly threading one of the studs 58 while outwardlythreading the opposite stud so as to move the frame 50 horizontally. Thestuds are then secured in the desired position by tightening nuts 58b soas to maintain the horizontal registration.

My invention comprises a silk screen printer having simple constructionwhich allows improved printing and production efiiciency. The means forregistration of the printing are simple and effective and the printermay be utilized for one-man operation with optimum results.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a silk screen printing machine having a frame, printingregistering means comprising in combination; a silk screen supportingmember; a plate member pivotally secured to the frame and arranged tomove in a vertical plane; adjustable means mounted on the frame andremovably engaging the plate member for securing the plate to the framein any of a plurality of positions; and a member secured to the platemember and adapted to be longitudinally moved parallel to the axis ofpivoting of the plate and having a portion in pivotal engagement withthe silk screen supporting member.

2. In a silk screen printing machine operating means comprising incombination: a frame; oscillatory drive means mounted on the frame andhaving a unidirectionally rotating motor; vertically extending supportmeans mounted on the frame; inking means vertically movably mounted onthe support means to have a printing movement and a non-printingmovement, and provided with switch actuating means; connecting meansextending between drive means adapted vertically to reciprocate theinking means; a first switch adapted to be actuated by said actuatingmeans and adapted to control the electrical circuit to the motor; amovable stock carrying platen member having switch actuating means; asecond switch arranged to be operated by the pIaten member actuatingmeans and to further control the electrical circuit to the motor,whereby said motor may be operated to actuate the drove means and movethe inking mechanism automatically when the platen member is moved to aprinting position, and said motor is automatically stopped when theinking means is moved to a non-printing position.

3. A silk screen printing machine comprising in combination: a frame;oscillatory drive means mounted on the frame and having auni'directionally rotating electric motor; vertically extending supportmeans mounted on the frame; inking means vertically movably mounted onthe support means and having an ink flow control blade and a switchengaging block member; connecting means extending between the drivemeans and the inking means adapted reciprocatorily, vertically to movethe inking means on the vertical support means; a silk screen supportingmember mounted on the frame and extending vertically in juxtaposition tothe support means and arranged to allow mounting of a silk screenthereon to have ink transferring engagement with the inking means; aplaten movably secured to the frame and adapted to removably supportmaterial to be printed in contact with the silk screen for printing onthe material, said platen having a switch actuating lever mountedthereon; a first switch mounted on the vertical support means, adaptedto be actuated by the inking means block so as to close the circuit tothe electric motor on the upward travel of the inking mechanism and openthe circuit to the motor on the downward travel of the inking mechanism;a second switch mounted on the frame and adapted to be actuated by theplaten lever when the platen is moved to the printing position to closethe circuit to the motor and when the platen is moved to thenon-printing position open the circuit to the motor, said switchesacting in combination to cause the motor to operate the drive and theconnecting means so as to automatically cause the inking mechanism tomove upwardly in ink transferring engagement with the silk screen whenthe platen is closed, engage a stop at the upper limit of the verticaltravel to move the ink control blade to an ink flow stopping positionand to move the inking mechanism downwardly, stopping it automatically.

4. A silk screen printing machine comprising in combination: a frame;oscillatory drive means having unidirectionally rotating member mountedon the frame, a

crank arm having one end pivotally eccentrically connected to therotating member, a first tooth rack fixedly secured to the frame, asecond tooth rack spaced from and extending parallel to the first rackand movably carried by the frame and a toothed wheel pivotally securedto another end of the crank arm and having meshing engagement with bothracks reciprocatorily to move said second rack; vertically extendingsupport means mounted on the frame; inking means comprising an inkreservoir having end members movably secured to the support means, inktransferring means slidably secured to said reservoir member andprovided with a connecting element, a squeegee extending outwardly fromthe ink reservoir, an ink flow control blade movably mounted on the endmember having a portion disposed adjacent said squeegee arranged to bemovable to a position where it contacts the squeegee and prevents inkflow from the reservoir, first stop means mounted on the verticallyextending support means adapted to engage the ink transferring means atthe upper and lower limits of travel to cause the ink transferring meansto move relative to the end members; second stop means mounted on thevertically extending support means adapted to move the control blade atthe upper limit of travel to the ink flow preventing position;connecting means extending between the drive means and the inking meansadapted to engage the drive means and the connecting element andreciprocatorily, vertically move the inking means; a silk screensupporting member mounted on the frame and extending in juxtaposition tothe support means, and arranged to allow mounting of a silk screenthereon to have ink transferring engagement with the inking means; and aplaten movably secured to the frame and adapted to support material tobe printed in contact with the silk screen for printing on the material.

References Cited in the file of this patent 12 Flockhart Dec. 20, 1932Parmele July 10, 1934 Wade Ian. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 30,1953

